"What the hell does that mean?" Jean asked, taken aback by his sudden rage.
Logan let out a bitter chuckle. "You really have no idea, do you?" He turned his body slightly toward her, lowering his voice but making sure she heard every word. "The whispers, the looks… Jean, they think we're sleeping together."
Jean's breath hitched. "Excuse me?"
Logan arched his brow. "You heard me. There's a rumor spreading like wildfire that you and I are… involved. That's why you're seated here. That's why Mr. Kim looks like he's reevaluating his life choices right now."
Jean's heart pounded as she looked around again, this time truly seeing the knowing smirks and subtle glances cast her way. It was as if every person on the yacht had already judged her, decided she was some woman who seduced her rivals to get ahead.
And then she spotted Junho.
The bastard was leaning back lazily in his chair, sipping his drink, eyes locked onto her like a cat toying with a mouse. He smirked, lifted his glass in a mock toast, and mouthed something she couldn't hear.
But she didn't need to hear it.
Her stomach twisted.
It was him. He had done this. Her heart was telling her.
Her pulse hammered in her ears as her grip on the table tightened. She wanted to scream, to march over and wipe that smug expression off his face, but she forced herself to stay put. Losing control now would only make things worse.
Logan, watching her reaction closely, sighed. "Looks like you finally caught up."
Jean turned back to him, eyes burning with frustration. "You think this is my fault?" she hissed.
Logan gave her a look. "I don't just think about it, I know it. This mess has your name written all over it. So tell me, Jean, what exactly did you do to piss off the wrong man this time? Or did you do this deliberately to ruin my image because you felt I was winning."
Jean's nails dug into her palm. "I don't owe you any explanations, Kingsley."
Logan smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Oh, but you do. Because like it or not, sweetheart, you're not the only one drowning in this disaster, you dragged me down with you."
The tension between them crackled like fire, but Jean didn't have time to deal with Logan's accusations. Not when Junho was sitting across the yacht, waiting for her reaction like a vulture.
And Jean Adams never let her enemies win.
As the yacht glided smoothly away from the docks, the gentle sway of the ocean became noticeable. The hum of conversation settled when Mr. Kim stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. Beside him, Junho stood with a smug, unreadable expression, swirling the champagne in his glass.
Mr. Kim raised his own glass slightly. "Thank you all for joining me today. This gathering is not just about business; it is about building lasting relationships and ensuring that my company aligns with those who share my values."
The ocean breeze tousled his salt-and-pepper hair, but his eyes remained sharp as he scanned the room. Then, for a brief moment, they softened.
"I started this company when I had nothing. No support, no foundation… except for my wife." His voice dipped, touched with the weight of memory. "She was my guiding light, my anchor. Even today, I miss her deeply. This company was her dream, and I have dedicated my life to keeping that dream alive."
Jean straightened in her seat, watching as emotion flickered across Mr. Kim's face before he blinked it away. She understood the loss he faced, understood what it meant to carry a legacy on shoulders.
But then his gaze shifted.
It landed first on Logan. Then on her.
Jean felt a chill creep up her spine as he continued. "For me, this is not just business. This company is my lifeline, and I will not allow anyone to tarnish its glory."
His voice held no accusation, yet Jean felt as if she had been personally challenged. Her fingers curled slightly on the tablecloth as she exchanged a glance with Logan, whose expression remained unreadable.
The tension in the air thickened.
Junho, standing beside his father, took a slow sip of his drink, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips as if he were enjoying an inside joke.
Jean's heart pounded. The rumors. The seating arrangement. Mr. Kim's words.
This has to be Junho's game.
And the real battle had just begun.
After Mr Kim's speech Jean stood up and began to walk towards him leaving Logan sitting in his place alone. She needed to clear the air between them.
She noticed Mr Kim was talking with a group of other CEOs, but she didn't wait for him to finish. She is desperate at this point, having rumours like this about her is a stain on her dignity and she will not allow anyone to do that to her.
Just as she was about to reach Mr Kim, a woman stood before her, stopping her in track. "What are you doing? Can you move please?"
"I'm Farah, Mr Junho Kim's assistant." Says the woman.
Jean didn't want to waste her time but knowing it's Junho's assistant, there must be something she has to say. "Okay, what do you want?"
Farah gives her a small smile, "My boss Mr Junho Kim, wants to have a word with you in private."
Jean inhaled sharply, suppressing her irritation as she talked to Farah.
"Where?" she asked coldly.
Farah tilted her head toward the far end of the yacht, where the deck extended into a more private seating area. "This way, Miss Adams."
Jean cast one last glance toward Mr. Kim. He was deep in conversation with a group of older businessmen, nodding along to something one of them said. If she interrupted now, it wouldn't do her any favors.
Fine. She would deal with Junho first.
Following Farah, Jean walked toward the secluded section of the yacht, her heels clicking against the wooden deck. As she stepped past the guests, she could feel some of them watching her.
The rumors were spreading like wildfire, and the last thing she needed was more attention drawn to her supposed involvement with Logan.
When she reached the lounge area, Junho was already waiting. He was sitting comfortably on a leather chair, a glass of whiskey in hand, his legs crossed as he smirked at her like he had already won.
Jean crossed her arms, her tone sharp. "I assume you have an explanation for whatever the hell you're trying to pull."
Junho swirled the whiskey in his glass, taking his time before responding. "Relax, Jean. Why so hostile?"
She let out a humorless laugh. "You're seriously asking me that?" She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice so no one nearby could overhear. "You spread rumors about me and Logan, manipulated the seating arrangements, and now Mr. Kim thinks I'm here for… what? A personal affair instead of business?"
Junho chuckled, completely unfazed. "You're quick, I'll give you that." He tilted his head, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "But come on, Jean. You humiliated me at my own party. Did you think I'd let that slide?"
Jean's fingers curled into fists. So this was revenge.
Her next step? Finding Mr. Kim.
And clearing her damn name.